Video guy gets stuck outside the plane
The unintentional solo jump above happened to videographer Zach Lewis when he climbed out at 10,500 feet (on green light) to video a 4-way jump. The pilot subsequently puts on the red light and the 4-way team climbs back in … abandoning Zach to his fate.
I had one foot on the step, a handle hold on the top of the plane and 3 fingers in the door – without a windbreak, I couldn't pull myself forward at all
For those who haven’t been on the step of an Otter, it’s virtually impossible to climb back in unaided, especially with a strong slipstream. Though you can see the 4-way guys want to help Zach they are as effective as a chocolate coffeepot. Eventually the pilot accelerates, Zach falls off and has to track back to the DZ. The 4-way has no video but a more worrying consequence is a skydiver leaving the aircraft at an unintentional location – the first in a chain of events that can lead to injury or worse.
##What’s the Solution?
To help a cameraflyer stuck on the step ideally requires two skydivers:
- Skydiver 1 climbs out floater-style and acts as a windbreak by making a big surface area for the wind
- Skydiver 2 holds onto the inside rail (in the shelter of Skydiver 1), grips the cameraflyer’s wrist/sleeve and pulls
- Cameraflyer is then able to make it back in to the plane, with a little help from his friends.
##Fresh Floater
Sometimes a jump can be aborted after a long run-in, for example on a multi-plane load. In this situation, if the floaters are already physically tired, it makes sense to put out a fresh floater (who was originally inside and does not have aching biceps) to be a windbreak.
##Loser Option
If you really dislike the cameraflyer you can make the ‘Loser’ sign from the aircraft or, even worse, close the door. (But only if you’re prepared to leave the DZ when you land and never come back)
